"Happy are they, in my opinion, to whom it is given either to do something worth writing about, or to write something worth reading; most happy, of course, those who do both." Pliny the Younger-Letter to the historian Tacitus. C. AD 106

Thursday, 7 June 2012

A defence of the printed newspaper by a self-confessed Newspaper addict

Just sometime back, I came across
a story about how the publishers of a daily newspaper in the U.S. had decided
to print the newspaper only thrice a week as this would help reduce the cost of
printing, cost of paper, and the cost of logistics. The story in leading
English daily went on to state that immediately after this newspaper announced
this decision, other newspapers across the country jumped the bandwagon and
followed suit! For a chronic news paper addict this would be a rather a very
big setback and disappointment!

When I am at home, there is
always a rush to get hold of the newspaper as soon as it lands at the door
step! Often it becomes a matter of first come first served, and at times there
might even be arguments about who got to read the newspaper first. At times a
compromise is arrived and while one gets to read the main newspaper, the other
gets to read the magazine! The day the newspaper is not delivered a feeling of déjà
vu pervades while we all look for the missing newspaper behind flower pots,
nooks and crannies! Very much the same happens when I stay back at my In Laws’
home, where another newspaper is subscribed to! Often in homes which assiduously
subscribe to daily newspapers, a specific pecking order is followed, with
lesser ones on the ladder of hierarchy hanging on for their turn to get their
hands on the newspaper. Breakfast is often an occasion when the lead articles
in the newspaper are often discussed, often leading to a dissection of core
issues and much taking of sides, and at times this discussion would lead to
arguments!

In most homes across the country especially
in joint families it is the newspaper that binds everyone together, and this
would get affected if newspapers were to be printed only thrice a week! Nothing
apparently can beat the unique experience of holding the crinkling newspaper
sheet in your hands, the feel of the texture of the paper, and sometimes the
scent of the ink in the print becomes a unique unifying experience that few
would like to fore go! I am told that soon all newspapers will be available on
the Kindle, but then the kindle would be an individual gadget, something
private and personal while the printed newspaper is something to be shared, and
something which provides for a common experience!

I have often observed how daily commuters who travel
by train or buses and who carry their newspapers with them have more friends
from among the daily commuters, and they are more popular, and more likely to
get a seat albeit shared! Often in such conditions, the newspaper is shared
page wise, so while one friend gets the front page, another gets the third
page, while yet another, the sports enthusiast would get the sports section of
the newspaper! Imagine how dull and boring it would be if you had to travel for
three days without that magical printed newspaper which brought you smiles,
friends, and that shared seat, and made the trip more interesting, what with
having to collect all those pages before the destination!

The versatility of the printed
newspaper far outweighs the effectiveness of the online version! In a country
which has banned the use of polythene bags, effective recycling has offset the
need for polythene carry bags with paper bags. Imagine recycling a Kindle or
I-Pad or even a tablet-P.C. to make paper bags! Moreover on long drives, it
makes good sense to carry a newspaper with you. You could use it to block
sunlight streaming in through the car window, it can be used to wrap fruits in,
it can be used to wipe your hands on, and well of course, you could always
return to that article you were reading, well that depends on whether the road
is smooth or not!

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About Me

I did my twelfth from Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, and my graduation, post graduation from Delhi University.A husband, a parent and an educator, I enjoy travelling, taking photographs, and writing. My philosophy of life is that it is important for you to live life to the fullest, and yes, you should be able to make a difference to others, otherwise you'd be living only for yourself, and that would be no fun, would it?